Inside the Philippines: A Stuff special report on tourism, tensions, and resilience

The Philippines is a country at the intersection of some of the most urgent issues shaping our region: climate change, geopolitical tension, tourism sustainability, and agricultural resilience. Camera operator Ricky Wilson and myself were privileged to spend a week there, travelling from the planned utopian sprawl of New Clark City to the crowded streets of Manila, from lush beaches dealing with the weight of tourism, to the rice paddies of Central Luzon where farmers are starting to look towards Aotearoa for agricultural survival strategies and brighter futures for their families.

In Boracay, an island known for its pristine white beaches, we examined the impact of over-tourism - an issue that resonates deeply with New Zealand’s own tourism sector. Once considered a crown jewel of Philippine tourism, Boracay was forced to close to visitors for six months in 2018 due to severe environmental degradation. The government used the closure to overhaul the island’s infrastructure and introduce more stringent tourism regulations.

Since reopening, Boracay has implemented improved wastewater management, caps on tourist numbers, and tighter controls on development. These experiences and lessons offer a cautionary tale and a roadmap for destinations like New Zealand that rely on their natural landscapes to attract visitors. Sustainable tourism, if not actively managed, can quickly tip into environmental and social strain.

Geopolitical dynamics were also a central focus of our trip. In Manila, we met with the Philippines Defense Secretary, Gilbert Teodoro, who spoke candidly about Beijing’s “sinister intentions.” In New Zealand, we often talk about China’s influence in vague, strategic terms. In the Philippines, it’s real, it’s daily, and it’s unsettling. It was a stark reminder of the challenge the Indo-Pacific faces; a region shaped by overlapping anxieties, ambitions, and alliances.

New Zealand’s recently agreed defence pact with the Philippines is a response to that, and this interview allowed us to explain to Kiwis the significance of that commitment and the need for our recent increase in defence spending. “If you don’t take the risk of China seriously, you may wake up with a neighbour you don’t want,” Teodoro warned. “Their expansion is a real thing.”

The Philippines’ strategic location means it is on the front line of growing competition between major powers. The threat posed by assertive Chinese activity in the region is not abstract, but immediate and deeply felt.

One of the key themes that emerged throughout our time in the Philippines, was the country’s vulnerability - and response - to the changing climate. A key example of that response, is the construction of New Clark City, a planned metropolis designed to offer a climate-resilient alternative to the capital of Manila, which faces increasing threats from flooding and typhoons.

We travelled north to see it firsthand. The vision behind this development is undeniably ambitious: to build a smart, sustainable, disaster-resilient city from scratch. Yet the realities are more complicated. While it represents innovation, it also raises questions about displacement, inclusivity, and the real-world challenges of implementing climate adaptation at scale. Interestingly, the developers had drawn inspiration in part from New Zealand, acknowledging our use of park spaces and ongoing efforts to protect our ‘clean green’ environment.

Finally, we explored how Filipino farmers are grappling with climate-induced disruptions to agriculture. The farmers we met were candid about the pressures they face - extreme weather, declining yields, and an uncertain economic future.

Many are now looking abroad for solutions, including to New Zealand, whose expertise in dairy farming and land management is viewed with interest. This kind of cross-border knowledge exchange offers a valuable opportunity for mutual learning, particularly as both countries confront increasingly similar environmental challenges. Our countries are worlds apart in many ways, but there is a shared thread here: the need to adapt, and fast.

Farming communities in both countries are on the front lines of climate change. The dairy industry in New Zealand is also running low on workers, and as the situation for Filipinos farming at home deteriorates, more and more are seeking the promise of a more reliable income in Aotearoa. Again, this exchange of knowledge, skill and opportunity, benefits both countries and is a celebration of our close ties.

Across all of these stories, what stood out most was the resourcefulness and resilience of the people we met. Despite facing significant challenges, there was a strong sense of agency - communities seeking solutions, adapting in real time, and engaging thoughtfully with a changing world.

The Philippines is a country reckoning with the same forces that shape New Zealand’s future - the likes of climate change and geopolitical instability - only at an intensified scale, and with fewer safety nets. I’m grateful to the Asia New Zealand Foundation for making this trip possible and helping to bring these important conversations home to New Zealand.

Read and watch Lisette Reymer’s stories about her coverage in the Philippines on Stuff/ThreeNews:

• 'Expansionism': Philippines Defence Secretary describes 'doctrine' of Beijing

• Philippines Defence Secretary describes 'sinister intentions' of Beijing

• A destination to loved to death: What NZ's tourism industry could learn from Boracay

• 'Tourist trashed our paradise': A cautionary tale for New Zealand's tourism industry

• What do you do when your capital city isn't working? You could build a new one

• A back up capital city is being built in the Philippines - but will it work?

• Filipino farmers eye New Zealand as climate squeezers dairy industry

-Asia Media Centre